By Nur Farhana Nisrina Kamaluddin, Dr Gan Yee Chin
Chinese culture had often been encountered in fragments—through classroom lessons, digital media, and occasionally through games that borrowed heavily from its visual aesthetics. Yet during the Open Day program at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia, those fragments began to take shape as something more tangible, lived, and deeply human.
The visit brought together twenty Universiti Malaya students in conjunction with the 52nd anniversary of China–Malaysia diplomatic relations and the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie). Graced by the presence of His Excellency Ambassador Ouyang Yujing, the program offered us immersive cultural experiences, hands-on workshops, and an opportunity to engage directly with traditions that had previously existed only in textbooks.
The delegation was led by Dr Gan Yee Chin, lecturer for the Chinese Language and Culture course under the Universiti Malaya Student Holistic Empowerment program. As part of the Global Issues and Community Sustainability: Making the World a Better Place initiative, the course aims to cultivate global awareness, cultural understanding, and intercultural competence. During the visit, these academic objectives took on a more personal dimension as students experienced cultural learning beyond the classroom.
The program began with a guided introduction to the embassy’s architectural symbolism. Students were taken through various sections of the building and introduced to design elements inspired by Confucian philosophy and traditional Chinese cosmology. Among the highlights were the square motifs on the ceiling, reflecting the ancient concept of Tian Yuan Di Fang (Round Heaven, Square Earth), which symbolizes balance and harmony in Chinese thought.
Ambassador Ouyang Yujing later delivered welcoming remarks, reflecting on cultural exchange and the longstanding friendship between China and Malaysia. He emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties and fostering mutual understanding among younger generations. The session concluded with a group photograph featuring the ambassador and all participants.
The cultural session that followed brought the Dragon Boat Festival into focus in a way that no textbook could fully capture. Learning about zongzi—glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves—was not just about food or tradition, but about continuity, memory, and shared identity for the Chinese. Even simple language practice such as “Nihao” became unexpectedly meaningful, breaking barriers and creating genuine moments of connection with embassy staff and fellow participants from UKM and IIUM.
Yet it was beyond the formal program where the experience became most personal. Standing before the Hanfu exhibition, it was striking to see how clothing could carry centuries of history within its folds. The exhibition showcased garments from different Chinese dynasties, illustrating the evolution of traditional attire over time. Trying on Hanfu offered a deeper appreciation of its structure and symbolism—its modest elegance, layered design, and quiet discipline. Despite its complexity, the attire felt surprisingly natural to wear, as though it had been designed not only for appearance but also for presence.
The workshops further deepened this sense of engagement. Participants could choose from activities such as bamboo fan weaving, charm making, and kite making, while displays of technological innovation by Huawei highlighted the intersection of tradition and modernity.
Bamboo fan weaving proved particularly memorable. What initially appeared to be a simple craft quickly revealed itself to be an exercise in patience and precision. Even slight misalignments could alter the entire pattern, offering a newfound appreciation for the skill and care embedded in traditional craftsmanship.
Prior to the visit, much of the understanding of Chinese culture had been shaped by mediated experiences—visual, stylized, and often detached from context. Being physically present changed that perception. What once felt distant became immediate; what once appeared aesthetic became lived. The culture was no longer something to be observed from afar, but something that could be experienced, however briefly, through participation and interaction.
As the day came to an end, participants left with booklets filled with cinnabar-red seal impressions featuring traditional Chinese symbolic motifs. Yet the most meaningful takeaway was not a souvenir, but a shift in perspective. The Open Day served not merely as an introduction to diplomacy or cultural exchange, but as a reminder that genuine understanding emerges through presence, participation, and the willingness to step beyond familiar boundaries.
Nur Farhana Nisrina Kamaluddin and Dr Gan Yee Chin are from the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya.
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